JJ trade could still take ANOTHER week! (12 AUG 2005)

[Yuma]

Judge reverses decision; trade to move forward

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 12, 2005 12:17 PM

A Boston judge reversed a ruling today in the Atlanta Hawks ownership battle, allowing co-owner Steve Belkin to be replaced as governor and for Phoenix’s sign-and-trade deal involving guard Joe Johnson to move forward. The trade could be final as early as today or as late as a week.

After listening to an emergency motion to dissolve the injunction he granted Tuesday, Judge Allan van Gestel ruled in favor of the eight Hawks owners who wanted to oust Belkin as governor because he was blocking the Johnson trade against their wishes.

The judge considered an affidavit that was submitted Wednesday by NBA Commissioner David Stern, who gave his approval of Belkin’s removal and argued that Belkin’s cancellation of the trade call was an action that legally bound the franchise.

Atlanta will replace Belkin as governor with co-owner Michael Gearon Jr., who then will approve the deal made July 31. Johnson will sign a five-year, $69.6 million contract, which includes a $20 million payment up front, with Phoenix and then be traded to the Hawks in exchange for guard Boris Diaw, two first-round draft choices with some lottery protections and a $4.9 million trade exception.

“The dissolution, however, is not intended and should not be construed as a ruling on the issues,” van Gestel wrote.

By van Gestel’s ruling, it appears finalization of the trade may take as long as another week. He referred to how the other owners still need to go through the proper channels in the partnership’s agreement.

That includes giving Belkin a written notice from the Hawks’ Board of Managers with a majority board vote. He can be moved if the “removable action” has not been rescinded within five days of the notice, according to the ownership agreement.

Another week, with amnesty players being able to be signed on Monday! The best we could hope for, is the other owners now having leverage to get Belkin to go along with them and OK the deal.

 

[elindholm]

If the trade doesn't go through by Monday, I think there is a real chance that Johnson and the Suns will try to work out a deal with someone else. They simply can't afford to be held waiting for this long, and everyone knows that. My guess is that Colangelo is working the phones hard right now to have a backup deal in place in case Atlanta can't get their act together.

 

[fordronken]

If the trade doesn't go through by Monday, I think there is a real chance that Johnson and the Suns will try to work out a deal with someone else. They simply can't afford to be held waiting for this long, and everyone knows that. My guess is that Colangelo is working the phones hard right now to have a backup deal in place in case Atlanta can't get their act together.

It seems like this Atlanta deal is all set to happen, but it's just a matter of time.

 

[elindholm]

It seems like this Atlanta deal is all set to happen, but it's just a matter of time.

But if the Suns are in danger of missing out on an amnesty signing or other trade while Atlanta sits on their hands, they may jump ship. Sarver has already pressured Johnson once, and I could see him saying, "Look, I know you'd rather play elsewhere, but this delay with the Hawks is killing us. Have your agent either get them to push the trade through right now or find another team that wants you, because if Monday comes and we still don't have these other trade pieces to work with, we're pulling out and matching whatever you get, like it or not."

 

[fordronken]

But if the Suns are in danger of missing out on an amnesty signing or other trade while Atlanta sits on their hands, they may jump ship. Sarver has already pressured Johnson once, and I could see him saying, "Look, I know you'd rather play elsewhere, but this delay with the Hawks is killing us. Have your agent either get them to push the trade through right now or find another team that wants you, because if Monday comes and we still don't have these other trade pieces to work with, we're pulling out and matching whatever you get, like it or not."

True. I guess if the Suns go ahead and sign somebody, the Hawks could decide to pull out of the sign-and-trade and just sign him.

 

[scotsman13]

guys it doesnt matter if we trade jj or not on our salery. we are already at the cap of 49 million and not yet at the tax of 60. with the signing of raja bell we passed the cap. so who ever we sign or if we dont sign anyone the jj trade hasnt no impact on it. the only thing the jj signing can effect is if we were to make a trade for someone and were wanting to use the trade exception.

 

[elindholm]

the only thing the jj signing can effect is if we were to make a trade for someone and were wanting to use the trade exception.

You do realize that the trade exception is the most valuable part of the Atlanta deal, right? Whether they can use it constructively makes a huge difference.

 

[myrondizzo]

You do realize that the trade exception is the most valuable part of the Atlanta deal, right? Whether they can use it constructively makes a huge difference.

how so? im not doubting im just not sure on how to use these things. i dont see why a team would give up a better player for a lesser player or pick just for cap room unless they were over the cap and not competing. and there isnt anyone on the nicks that i want.

 

[elindholm]

i dont see why a team would give up a better player for a lesser player or pick just for cap room unless they were over the cap and not competing.

You're right, I should have said the trade exception combined with the picks. Usually a team won't give up a good player just for space, as you said.

However, Diaw doesn't exactly look like a stud to this point, and the Suns tend to use draft picks as bargaining chips, not as a way to add new young talent. So the best-case scenario is that some combination of picks and the exception will appeal to a team that has a reasonably good player that they don't really want anymore, or who has asked to leave. That happens more often in mid-season, but situations can also arise when teams are trying to retool themselves in the late summer, which means now.

 

[George O'Brien]

Gambo and Ash were discussing the Atlanta pick. They talked as if the degree of protection drops dramatically in 2007. Ideally it would go completely unprotected, but they were talking 5-7 range.

I'd love to get an unprotected for 2007. If this guy Oden is even half as good as they are suggesting, he could be hottest #1 sinc Duncan (bigger deal than LeBron even). In any case, betting on the Hawks being bad is generally a good bet.

 

[Chaplin]

Gambo and Ash were discussing the Atlanta pick. They talked as if the degree of protection drops dramatically in 2007. Ideally it would go completely unprotected, but they were talking 5-7 range.

I'd love to get an unprotected for 2007. If this guy Oden is even half as good as they are suggesting, he could be hottest #1 sinc Duncan (bigger deal than LeBron even). In any case, betting on the Hawks being bad is generally a good bet.

In 2007 it's top 3 protected.

 

[ActingWild]

Not trying to toot my own horn but...

This is exactly what I was worried about when all of this started:

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=57822

I hope the Suns don't let the Hawks or JJ tie our hands behind our backs.

 

[playstation]

In 2007 it's top 3 protected.

is this what it has come to? a young, championship contending team of 2 months ago now hoping for the number 1 pick in frickin 2007?

 

[mribnik]

This is ridiculous. IMO the Suns deserve extra compensation from the league or from the Hawks. I never thought I'd build a dislike for a team that won 13 games last year, but those idiots in Georgia are really pissing me off.

 

[George O'Brien]

is this what it has come to? a young, championship contending team of 2 months ago now hoping for the number 1 pick in frickin 2007?

If Oden is anything close to being the player they are saying, you wouldn't say that. Here is a HS junior who could have been the #1 pick in this year's draft if he was eligible.

 

[overseascardfan]

Can we back out of the deal or are we stuck with Atlanta as a trade partner? I think we should get more for JJ since there are any real difference makers left on the free agent market. We should at least be getting a starter in return for him (ie. Magloire, Foster, Childress, Gooden, Pierce, Jefferson, JRich, etc.). By the way is Sprewell an option for us since Finley will probably sign with the Heat and Christie signing with Dallas?

 

[George O'Brien]

The Hawks do not have anyone that could start for the Suns until they get JJ

The key to this deal is the trade exemption and taking higher cost players reduces the value of the exemption. It looks like the Suns see Diaw as a backup point guard, so they still meet an important need if that works out.

I would expect the Suns will wait closer to the trading deadline to use the trade exemption. Teams that are "out of it" sometimes will unload very good players that could be useful in the playoffs.

 

[Forrestham]

I would like to see the Suns set a deadline or pull out of the deal or ask to up the ante and unprotect the Hawks pick. I hope they can get finley with the $4.8 exception and grant with teh $1.7. The worst mistake they could make is do a knee jerk reaction like we did after losing McDyess and signed Gugliotta. That deal tied up the Suns for years from making moves. I say unless a good player becomes available to hang on to it. We do have Bell and JJ2. The darkhorse could be Leandro. He is tearing it up in the brazillian league. Maybe he has gained some confidence. Last year Jim Jackson became available. I am pretty confident the will be some amnesty players that will be willing to come here for the vets minimum.
By theway I cnat beleive some of these contracts some of these players had

 

[George O'Brien]

I would like to see the Suns set a deadline or pull out of the deal or ask to up the ante and unprotect the Hawks pick. I hope they can get finley with the $4.8 exception and grant with teh $1.7. The worst mistake they could make is do a knee jerk reaction like we did after losing McDyess and signed Gugliotta. That deal tied up the Suns for years from making moves. I say unless a good player becomes available to hang on to it. We do have Bell and JJ2. The darkhorse could be Leandro. He is tearing it up in the brazillian league. Maybe he has gained some confidence. Last year Jim Jackson became available. I am pretty confident the will be some amnesty players that will be willing to come here for the vets minimum.
By theway I cnat beleive some of these contracts some of these players had

I was thinking about Leandro replacing Q's role in the small ball lineup. Leandro is not going to be the rebounder Q was, but Q was not very good on defense. Give Leandro the chance to shoot as many shots as Q and I'm not sure there would be that much drop off. Leandro shot 47.5% fron the field and 36.7% for three (marginally better than Q) but shot better his rookie year 39.5%.

Once we stop worrying about whether Leandro can play PG and just look at what he can do as a wing player, he might be a lot more useful than people think.

 

[The Commish]

I was thinking about Leandro replacing Q's role in the small ball lineup. Leandro is not going to be the rebounder Q was, but Q was not very good on defense. Give Leandro the chance to shoot as many shots as Q and I'm not sure there would be that much drop off. Leandro shot 47.5% fron the field and 36.7% for three (marginally better than Q) but shot better his rookie year 39.5%.

Once we stop worrying about whether Leandro can play PG and just look at what he can do as a wing player, he might be a lot more useful than people think.

Plus Leandro is one of the few people on this team that can create their own shots. There are times when I wish Leandro would go to the basket more because he is very quick and finishes pretty well. Hopefully he can also benefit from the open looks that Nash and Amare create.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

If Oden is anything close to being the player they are saying, you wouldn't say that. Here is a HS junior who could have been the #1 pick in this year's draft if he was eligible.

Im with you playstation....i doubt the message boards in San Antonio are getting excited about the 2007 draft. They are probaly talking about more relevant items such as winning the 2006 title. Thats the difference between San Antonio and us now...